17th Century French Louis XIII Carved Walnut Salt Chair “Chaise a Sel”

$1,600

About

This “Chaise a sel” or salt chair was created in southern France circa 1650. Built of walnut, the chair stands on front bun feet over baluster-turned uprights and a carved diamond shape facade. The open back is decorated with a scalloped top ladder. The seat top lifts up to reveal inside storage (for salt at the time); the chair is further embellished with an iron heart-shaped keyhole on the front and decorative hinges in the back. The Louis XIII PERIOD chair is in excellent condition commensurate with age and use, and adorns a rich walnut patina. A true one-of-a-kind which could be used as a ladder, or a cabinet to store shoe polish, or other stuff! The temporary salt tax established in 1246, became permanent and then state monopoly in 1343 and was not definitively abolished until ….. 1946! This tax levied by the general farm gave rise over the seven centuries to a solid vocation dedicated to smuggling and practiced by fake salt workers ever more ingenious and creative. For storage away from humidity, a wooden chest, placed near the fireplace, is the most suitable of the containers. Hence the idea of ??creating a chest that will serve as a chair. Legend has it that this chair was assigned to the grandmother who, with her long dress of the time, completely hid the chest part. The gabelou, or customs officer of the time, out of gallantry no doubt, did not bother the grandmother, thus neglecting the control of this furniture. 16″W x 14.25″D x 33.5″H

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